Kwidzyn Old Town Housing Proposal / Perspektywa

The second prize winning design by Perspektywa for the Kwidzyn Old Town Housing Units in Poland answers to the competition challenge with their modern architecture with classic elements. Doing so provides a dialogue between the historical surroundings and creating a new image of Kwidzyn city. They achieved that aim by analyzing the existing and historical urban grid of the city, archival documentation, using proper scale, proportions and characteristic triple axis facades. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The main aim of architectural competition for Kwidzyn Old Town was to: fit into existing urban grid, rebuild old town structure, make dialogue between existing Gothic Cathedral and Castle , ruins of City Hall and newly designed housing unit, create a new image of Kwidzyn city balanced between 21 century and the Middle Ages, and connecting new design with existing historical building.

Additional tasks for architects taking part in this competition was to accommodate three different types of buildings from different times. The most important and unique is medieval Gothic Cathedral and Castle complex. Every newly designed project in this area should be a modern interesting vision connected with Gothic complex respecting its history, function and place in old town of Kwidzyn city. Next element taking important part in designing process is surrounding the Old City Market and ruines of City Hall. Housing units build in 80’s are poor heritage made of concrete in the center of Old City of Kwidzyn. Competition task was to connect this part of the city with Cathedral complex by designing housing unit between those two different histories.

The design comprises 4 stories high building with underground garage for 68 cars with historically and archeologically important existing ruines of old buildings and additional 16 parking places outside of the building. On the ground floor there are mixed services for rent. On the higher floors we have 61 different size flats, from 1-room to 4-rooms.

On our terrain there was existing building with we decided to preserve and connect with newly designed project by using rusty material which in our opinion fit to Cathedral brick elevation. We changed function of this building from housing unit to modern boutique hotel.